--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We sometimes imagine we hate flattery…" description: "\"We sometimes imagine we hate flattery, but we only hate the way we are flattered.\" — Francois de La Rochefoucauld" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/43e/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_flattered_we-sometimes-imagine-we-hate-flattery-bu_2040037.png" --- # We sometimes imagine we hate flattery, but we only hate… ![“We sometimes imagine we hate flattery, but we only hate the way we are flattered.” quote by Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/43e/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_flattered_we-sometimes-imagine-we-hate-flattery-bu_2040037.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/43e/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_flattered_we-sometimes-imagine-we-hate-flattery-bu_2040037.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/43e/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_flattered_we-sometimes-imagine-we-hate-flattery-bu_2040037.png) > “We sometimes imagine we hate flattery, but we only hate the way we are flattered.” [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. We claim to dislike flattery, yet we actually resent the way it is delivered to us. **In simple terms:** We hate how flattery is given, not flattery itself. Key Takeaway Consider how delivery affects perception. Themes human nature ego communication Mood thoughtful critical Type philosophical psychological When to use this quote - personal relationships - workplace feedback - political rhetoric Key Concepts flattery self‑perception social interaction Questions to Reflect On - Why does the method of praise matter? - Can sincere compliments avoid resentment? A Different Perspective May not apply to those indifferent to praise. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Flattery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flattery/) [Hate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hate/) ## Related quotes > [We sometimes think that we hate flattery, but we only hate the manner in which it is done. \[Fr., On croit quelquefoir hair la…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/we-sometimes-think-that-we-hate-flattery-but-we-only-hate-the-manner/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [Men sometimes think they hate flattery, but they hate only the manner of flattering.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/men-sometimes-think-they-hate-flattery-but-they-hate-only-the-manner/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [“I want… I want so much to hate you. Do you know what it’s like? Do you have any idea what it’s like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-finn/i-want-i-want-so-much-to-hate-you-do-you-know-what-it-s-like-do-you/) [Elizabeth Finn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-finn/) > [As kings are begotten and born like other men, it is to be presumed that they are of the human species; and perhaps, had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/as-kings-are-begotten-and-born-like-other-men-it-is-to-be-presumed/) [Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) > [Flattery pleases very generally. In the first place, the flatterer may think what he says to be true; but, in the second place, whether…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/flattery-pleases-very-generally-in-the-first-place-the-flatterer-may/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Learn that every flatterer Lives at the flattered listeners cost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-fontaine/learn-that-every-flatterer-lives-at-the-flattered-listeners-cost/) [Jean de La Fontaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-fontaine/) > [Never permit yourself to indulge in cheap flattery, which often times means to merely satisfy the individuals vanity and sometimes to ingratiate the flatter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-b-lee/never-permit-yourself-to-indulge-in-cheap-flattery-which-often-times/) [Harold B. Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-b-lee/) > [“Flattery is so necessary to all of us that we flatter one another to be flattered in return”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marjorie-bowen/flattery-is-so-necessary-to-all-of-us-that-we-flatter-one-another-to/) [Marjorie Bowen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marjorie-bowen/) > [They do not abuse the king that flatter him. For flattery is the bellows blows up sin; The thing the which is flattered, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/they-do-not-abuse-the-king-that-flatter-him-for-flattery-is-the/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Pope had been flattered till he thought himself one of the moving powers of the system of life. When he talked of laying down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/pope-had-been-flattered-till-he-thought-himself-one-of-the-moving/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Money is the sincerest of all flattery. Women love to be flattered. So do men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/money-is-the-sincerest-of-all-flattery-women-love-to-be-flattered-so/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [Some indeed there are who profess to despise all flattery, but even these are nevertheless to be flattered, by being told that they do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/some-indeed-there-are-who-profess-to-despise-all-flattery-but-even/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [Should the poor be flattered? No; let the candied tongue lick absurd pomp, and crook the pregnant hinges of the knee where thrift may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/should-the-poor-be-flattered-no-let-the-candied-tongue-lick-absurd/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Imitation is the highest form of flattery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/imitation-is-the-highest-form-of-flattery/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [He that loves to be flattered is worthy o' the flatterer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/he-that-loves-to-be-flattered-is-worthy-o-the-flatterer/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) ## More by Francois de La Rochefoucauld > [Our own distrust gives a fair pretence for the knavery of other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/our-own-distrust-gives-a-fair-pretence-for-the-knavery-of-other-people/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [Behind many acts that are thought ridiculous there lie wise and weighty motives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/behind-many-acts-that-are-thought-ridiculous-there-lie-wise-and/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [“Passion often makes a madman of the cleverest man, and renders the greatest fools clever.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/passion-often-makes-a-madman-of-the-cleverest-man-and-renders-the/) [François de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [Perseverance is neither praiseworthy nor blameworthy; for it seems to be only the enduring of certain inclinations and opinions which men neither give themselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/perseverance-is-neither-praiseworthy-nor-blameworthy-for-it-seems-to/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [A woman is faithful to her first lover for a long time - unless she happens to take a second.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/a-woman-is-faithful-to-her-first-lover-for-a-long-time-unless-she/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [We are almost always wearied in the company of persons with whom we are not permitted to be weary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/we-are-almost-always-wearied-in-the-company-of-persons-with-whom-we/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [The love of new acquaintance comes not so much from being weary of what we had before, or from any satisfaction there is in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/the-love-of-new-acquaintance-comes-not-so-much-from-being-weary-of/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [It is sometimes necessary to play the fool to avoid being deceived by cunning men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/it-is-sometimes-necessary-to-play-the-fool-to-avoid-being-deceived-by/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [The intention of never deceiving often exposes us to deception.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/the-intention-of-never-deceiving-often-exposes-us-to-deception/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [Jealousy springs more from love of self than from love of another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/jealousy-springs-more-from-love-of-self-than-from-love-of-another/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [Our distrust of another justifies his deceit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/our-distrust-of-another-justifies-his-deceit/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [No persons are more frequently wrong, than those who will not admit they are wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/no-persons-are-more-frequently-wrong-than-those-who-will-not-admit/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [Jealousy is always born with love, but does not die with it. In jealousy there is more of self-love than of love to another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/jealousy-is-always-born-with-love-but-does-not-die-with-it-in/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [The greatest of all gifts is the power to estimate things at their true worth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/the-greatest-of-all-gifts-is-the-power-to-estimate-things-at-their/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [We have not strength enough to follow our reason so far as it would carry us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/we-have-not-strength-enough-to-follow-our-reason-so-far-as-it-would/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) [Explore all 1,134 Francois de La Rochefoucauld quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) ## More Flattered quotes > [A lot of people have been saying 'The 100' reminds them of 'Lord Of The Flies,' 'Lost' and 'Battlestar Galactica,' and all of those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-avgeropoulos/a-lot-of-people-have-been-saying-the-100-reminds-them-of-lord-of-the/) [Marie Avgeropoulos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-avgeropoulos/) > [May the gods have mercy on whoever pisses them off, because Zarek and Jericho will have none for them. (Madoc) You’d better be glad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/may-the-gods-have-mercy-on-whoever-pisses-them-off-because-zarek-and/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [If anybody sounds like me... everyone knows me, I'm flattered.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-dream/if-anybody-sounds-like-me-everyone-knows-me-i-m-flattered/) [The-Dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-dream/) > [So I'm one of the few celebrities that got to do a repeat performance on 'The Simpsons,' which I'm very flattered by.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-yankovic/so-i-m-one-of-the-few-celebrities-that-got-to-do-a-repeat-performance/) [Al Yankovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-yankovic/) > [It is a very high mind to which gratitude is not a painful sensation. If you wish to please, you will find it wiser…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/it-is-a-very-high-mind-to-which-gratitude-is-not-a-painful-sensation/) [Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/) > [“Flattered as I am that you count me among the beautiful people, Barrons, allow me to point out that I’m still alive. I encountered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/flattered-as-i-am-that-you-count-me-among-the-beautiful-people/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [So I'm an ace?' Will grinned. 'I'm flattered Halt, flattered. I had no idea you regarded me so highly.' Halt gave him a long-suffering…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flanagan/so-i-m-an-ace-will-grinned-i-m-flattered-halt-flattered-i-had-no-idea/) [John Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flanagan/) > [The common people feel themselves oppressed by the grasping of some, and their vanity is flattered by others. Fired with evil passions, they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/polybius/the-common-people-feel-themselves-oppressed-by-the-grasping-of-some/) [Polybius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/polybius/) > [I would be flattered and honored to be considered for any position where I could serve my country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberly-guilfoyle/i-would-be-flattered-and-honored-to-be-considered-for-any-position/) [Kimberly Guilfoyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberly-guilfoyle/) > [I'm flattered anytime someone has taken enough time to listen to me and make a connection to someone else, honestly. I feel very lucky…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-worsham/i-m-flattered-anytime-someone-has-taken-enough-time-to-listen-to-me/) [Charlie Worsham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-worsham/) > [our republican ideas cannot be consistently carried out while women are excluded from any share in the government. ... Any class of human beings…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-m-child/our-republican-ideas-cannot-be-consistently-carried-out-while-women/) [Lydia M. Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-m-child/) > [I'm very flattered when people I respect like my work. It's like a dream of a little kid when somebody I idolised likes my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nan-goldin/i-m-very-flattered-when-people-i-respect-like-my-work-it-s-like-a/) [Nan Goldin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nan-goldin/) > [I always was flattered when people would say I would do whatever it took for the team. I always thought of myself as that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/logan-mankins/i-always-was-flattered-when-people-would-say-i-would-do-whatever-it/) [Logan Mankins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/logan-mankins/) > [The idea of salvation through some one or some thing outside of ourselves came from love of inertia. We want God or his Son…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-moore-hubbard/the-idea-of-salvation-through-some-one-or-some-thing-outside-of/) [Alice Moore Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-moore-hubbard/) > [“There's something weird about that guy," she whispers as she slips into the car, bringing an unexpected smile to my face. Ah, Ariel. Some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacey-jay/there-s-something-weird-about-that-guy-she-whispers-as-she-slips-into/) [Stacey Jay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacey-jay/) Browse all 271 Flattered quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We sometimes imagine we hate flattery, but we only hate the way we are flattered.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Francois de La Rochefoucauld" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/we-sometimes-imagine-we-hate-flattery-but-we-only-hate-the-way-we-are/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Flattered" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/we-sometimes-imagine-we-hate-flattery-but-we-only-hate-the-way-we-are/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/43e/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_flattered_we-sometimes-imagine-we-hate-flattery-bu_2040037.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/43e/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_flattered_we-sometimes-imagine-we-hate-flattery-bu_2040037.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/43e/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_flattered_we-sometimes-imagine-we-hate-flattery-bu_2040037.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We sometimes imagine we hate flattery, but we only hate the way we are flattered.” — Francois de La Rochefoucauld", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Francois de La Rochefoucauld", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "We sometimes imagine we hate flattery,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/we-sometimes-imagine-we-hate-flattery-but-we-only-hate-the-way-we-are/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/we-sometimes-imagine-we-hate-flattery-but-we-only-hate-the-way-we-are/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```